Gas scrubber



N. c. BRUNDAGE 2,203,592

GAS SCRUBBER Filed larch 21, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR. orwmz CBMMJ June 1940- N. QBRUNDAGE GAS SCRUBBER Filed larch L21, 1938 3 Sheets-sheaf 2 I I I I ('39 I -E mum 'INVENT OR.

JVrmazz BY m f fill/20 6236 ATTORNEYS- June 4, 1940.

N. c. BRUNDAGE :s Sheets-Shet 5 mm m 2 o a M n OHIF Patented June 4, 1940 UNITED STATES.

2,203,592 GAS sclwnnsa Norman C. Brundage, Los Angeles, Calif., assign- .or to Western Precipitation Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application March 21, 1938, Serial No. 197,285

8 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to gas washing or scrubbing devices in which suspended particles of finely divided foreign matter are removed from a gas stream, liquid being passed 'through the device to help collect solid foreign particles and prevent their redispersion into the gas stream. The foreign particles are usually solid matter and so I describe the gas washer as operating to remove dust of that character; butit will also be understood that the same construction may be used to remove suspended particles of liquid from a gas stream.

It is a general object ofmy invention to provide a scrubber of this general type having a high collection efliciency that is undiminishedover a wide range of gas volume. High efliciency is desired not only in order to accomplish a given task well by removing a high percentage of for eign matter, but also because a device of a given a size and cost handles gas volumes requiring much larger devices that are less eflicient.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a gas washer that subjects the gas stream to a minimum of draft loss as it passes through the device. Draft losses represent power losses,

and the cost of operation is determined to a large extent by the energyrequired to force the gas stream through the washer at an effective velocity. Hence a device having a minimum pressure 30 drop between the gas inlet and the outlet coststhe least to operate for a given set of conditions.

It is also an object to provide a gas washer that is unlikely to stop up completely from accumulated deposits and that is easy to clean of any deposits. A scrubber that is suflicientl'y selferation of the scrubber.

These objects are attained in a scrubber constructed according to my invention by providing within a housing a plurality of members de flning constricted openings through which the gas passes in succession. Arranged in series, these openings are alined with one another in the direction of gas flow so that, considered alone, they form, in effect, a straight uninterrupted passage 55 for-the gas; thou h actually the gas stream is cleaning to prevent large accumulation of solid matter, maintains its high collection efficiency at ternally operated means without interrupting 'opconstricted just prior to passing through each individual opening and expands just after passing through the opening. The opening-defining members preferably comprise downwardly converging wall means which converge toward the 5 constricted openings. Wash liquid, normally water, is introduced, as by spraying or otherwise at the upper end'of the housing, and the liquid, passing down over the members in series, wets theirsurfaces. As the liquid runsoflthe lower 10 edge of one member, the gas stream picks up droplets of the liquid,'carrying them against and wetting various surfaces of the opening-defining members and the housing, and the contact of the gas with these, wetted surfaces separates the 15 suspended; particles which, being held in the liquid stream, are not redispersed into'the gas stream. When a mist of liquid particles is separated from the gas stream, the wash liquid may be omitted. A series of truncated conical memhers is preferably used to provide a series of circular openings in the housing.- I also show flat members arranged to form a series of slots as exemplifying possible variations in construction and shape of the parts. Gas flow through the housing is preferably downwardly, concurrently with the liquid, to wash the gas; and then the cleaned gas flows through another portion of the housing, preferably upwardly, having means to remove droplets of the wash liquid carried by the gas.

How the above objects and advantages of my invention, as well as others not above specifically mentioned, are attained, will be more readily apparent from the following description and the annexed drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a preferred form of gas washing device constructed in accord with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a combined plane and section taken on 0 I line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation showing the arrangement and construction of one series of conical opening-defining members used in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the upper left hand corner of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation of one end of the outlet bailie for removing wash liquid;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through a varia- I tional form of opening-defining members;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on lineI---'| 'of Fig. 6.

Referring now to Fig. 1,- my improved gas cleaning device comprises a housing generally indicated as ll through which the gas flows. to be cleaned. At the top of the housing, and on opposite sides thereof, are located gas inlet l2 and gas outlet I4. As may be seen by also referring to Fig. 2, inlet l2 and outlet N are rectangular in outline and extend horizontally across the entire width of housing I. Interposed between the inlet and outlet is vertical partition I5 which extends from the top Illa of housing l0 downwardly to a point near the bottom of the housing which is divided by the partition into two main portions. Gas entering the housing through inlet l2 flows downwardly on the lefthand side of partition l5, around the bottom of the partition, and thence upwardly withinthe housing to outlet 14.

Upper header plate H is supported by angles, H3, or other suitable means, on the walls of housing lo a short distance below inlet l2. Header plate I! extends horizontally across the entire space between the three side walls of the housing and partition IE5 at the inlet side of the partition. Lower header plate 20 is located directly below the upper header plate and is similarly supported from the housing walls by angles 2|. Each of header plates l1 and 20 has a number of flanged circular openings, and corresponding openings in the upper and lower plates are connected by cylindrical tubes 22. Each of these cylindrical tubes subdivides the entire housing into which gas flows, and the number of these ducts within the housing is determined entirely by the volume of gas which it is desired to pass through the housing for cleaning. In the washer illustrated, twelve of these cylindrical tubes are shown, but it will be realized that a greater or lesser number may be used according as a larger or smaller gas capacity is required.

Eacl'i'tube-ZZ has within it a series of frustoconical members 24 which, for convenience of reference, may hereinafter be referred to as cones. As may be seen in'greater detail from Fig. 3, each conical member 24 is a hollow figure formed from sheet metal and open at both ends. Any desired number of these cones, preferably four or five, is arrangedin a series within a tubular duct 22, the lower ends of the cones forming a-vertically alined series of circular openings 25 through which the gas flows in succession. Openings 25 are of smaller area than the cross-sectional area of the tube 22.

= the cones will slide easily into place.

bars 21 are attached at their upper end to the The series of cones 24 in any one tube 22 may conveniently be held spaced at substantially equal vertical intervals by attaching them all to vertically extending bars 21 of which there are three at equal intervals around the peripheries of the cones. Gas openings 25 of the top cones 24 are maintained in a horizontal plane parallel to and spaced from the plane of plate H; and the openings of each lower set of cones lie in a similar horizontal plane, there thus being a series of such vertically spaced planes in which the gas openings are placed. The top cone of the series has a greater slant height than the other cones, and its maximum diameter is greater than the diameter of tube 22. The large upper end of the top cone engages the periphery of the flanged openingin header plane I1 and the cone rests upon plate II as shown in Fig. 4. The lower cones of the series have their maximum outside diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of tube22, a small clearance being allowed between the cones and the tube wall in order that Vertical top cone of the series, and the lower cones are lower cones being notched at their upper edges to receive bars 21, as shown in Fig. 3, without creating' a gap between the cones and the tube wall. This construction permits removal as a single unit of the entire series of cones in a tube, as is desirable when cleaning, or replacing the cones with others of different size or shape. This unit construction also makes for convenience and cheapness in manufacturing and assembly.

In spray chamber 30 above header plate l1, there is located any suitable means for supplying wash liquid to the upper ends of members 24 and wetting the surfaces of these members, particularly in the vicinity of openings 25. Although any suitable means for distributing the liquid evenly to all ducts 22 may be used, the plurality of spray heads or nozzles 3| located in spray chamber 30 is typical of such means and is used because the spray of liquid maintained gives even distribution. Liquid is supplied to nozzles 3| by a piping system indicated generally at 32 which is connected to any suitable source of liquid supply. The liquid is normally water, but any other liquid or solution may also be used within the scope of my invention.

The liquid from nozzles 3| runs downwardly.

lected solid material is settled out and the liquidv pumped back into piping system 32 for recirculation through the gas washer.

, In the space 36 on the outlet side of partition IS, the clean gas ascends to reach outlet. l4, carrying with it in suspension more or less liquid picked up as it passed through tubes 22. The

suspended droplets of liquid are removed by inclined bafiles 31 which are suspended in space 36 by apair of strap hangers 38 attached at their upper ends to top wall I [la of housing It. The arrangement of baflies 31, which are flat plates and the manner of their connection to straps 38 by braces 39 are shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

In operation, the gas enters through inlet l2, and passes downwardly through the housing, the main gas stream being divided into a number of smaller ones each of which flows through a duct 22. Considering now one of these smaller streams, as it passes downwardly through each conical member 24, the gas stream is compressed or constricted by the downwardly converging walls' of the conical member. Immediately after passing through an opening 25, the gas stream is released and expands outwardly toward the wall of tube 22, the expansion setting up eddy currents around thevlower end of cone 24. This condition is repeated as the gas stream passes through each of the opening-defining members 24 in succession.

The liquid spray from nozzles 2| is distributed evenly over the entire bottom of the spray chamber and keeps the upper surface of each top cone 24 continually wet. The liquid is supplied in sufficient quantity to form a film that runs down the conical surface and through opening 25 to reach the upper conical surface of the cone next below it. If there were no disturbance from the gas stream, the flowing liquid would drip oil the cone in the form of a circular curtain. But bethe periphery of opening 25by the gas stream,

cause of the high velocity of the gas stream as it leaves an opening 25, the liquid is picked up at carried outwardly by the stream, and spread by the eddy current over "the conical surface of the member 24 next below where a similar liquid film is formed. A certain amount of the liquid in small droplets picked up by the gas stream as it leaves each opening 25 is carried in suspension against the under surfaces of cone 24 and the walls of tube 22. Consequently, in practice the upper and lower surfaces of all cones 24 as well as the inner surface of tube 22 are kept wetted at all times with the liquid. The alternate constriction and expansion of the gas stream causes all parts of the stream to repeatedly come in con- .tact with the wetted surfaces within duct 22; and

it is primarily by this contact with wet surfaces that the suspended particles of solid or liquid matter carried by the gas stream are separated from the gas and collected-in the film of liquid on these surfaces. In the case of solid particles, the liquid film holds them against redispersion into the gas stream. The gas stream passes through a spray of liquid not only in spray chamber 30, but every time that the gas stream expands after passing through an opening 25. This action not only helps mechanically to wash suspended particles out of the gas stream but also serves to distribute the wash liquid over the various surfaces against which the gas impinges.

Alined openings 25, being each of considerably less area than the cross-sectional area of duct 22, have the effect of confining the gas stream to a relatively smaller area located centrally of the duct. In this center area there is no obstruction to gasfiow, and if the gas were to flow in a straight line, it could pass entirely through a duct without being diverted. An important re-,

sult secured by the alined openings, is the very low pressure drop between the top and bottom 'of a duct 22. However. the abrupt enlargement of the space available for gas flow in the duct section immediately below each opening and following a section in which fall means in the duct gradually constricts the gas flow to a small area, creates a turbulent flow condition and brings the gas stream intimately into contact with wtted surfaces within duct 22.

- five cones in a.

Actual experiments have indicated that'under most ordinary conditions, a maximum efliciency of dust collection is reached with about four or series. A lesser number normally decreases the amount of dust removed, while a larger number of cones'increases the pressure drop between the upper and lower ends of'duct 22 without effecting any material increase in collection efliciency. .Although the partition means represented by tube walls 22 may under some circumstances be omitted, as in construction later mentioned, yet it is preferred that partition means be used to subdivide the :housing interior into a plurality of separate ducts operating in parallel, each taking a portion of the entire-gas stream. The value for such partition means is evident when using circular members 24 because they do not fit together tightly at their top edges. The partition means is preferred because it reduces over all pressure drop, confines the gas to passage through cones 24, and eliminates any flat horizontal surfaces on which dust can accumulate.

The largest portion of the liquid with the collected solid matter drops down from the end of ducts 22 into the sump of the housing bottom lllb, and the larger droplets in suspension are separated out from the gas stream by gravity because of the reverse flow taking place 'as the gas stream moves upwardly through passage 36. This gravitational separation of the larger suspended droplets is facilitated by making the cross-sectional area of passage 36 sumciently large, that the mean gas velocity through it is somewhat lower than the mean gas velocity through ducts 22. The smaller particles of liquid still carried in suspension are removed by impingement of the gas stream against the plurality of inclined baffles 31 which areplaced in staggered positions and overlapped vertically, forcing the gasto follow a devious, winding path before it reaches outlet l4. Better drainage and removal of wash liquid is obviously obtained when ducts 22 are vertical, but otherwise the device may be satisfactorily operated with ducts 22 horizontal.

Because the series of alined openings 25 always offers a straight path through the series of elements 24, even though a'deposit of dust accumulates on the surface of cones 24 and tube 22, itis almost impossible under ordinary operating conditions to clog up the washer to such an extent that gas can not pass through. But some deposits will accumulate and when cleaning is desired, it is a simple matter to remove the top plate lUa, which is preferably bolted to the side walls to makeremoval easy, thus gaining access to the upper ends of the several gas ducts. For a thorough cleaning, the entire series of cones in any duct is removed as a unit, and all surfaces are then entirely exposed for easy cleaning. It may be also found convenient to provide a series of openings in the top of the housing located directly above the several ducts 22 so that a cleaning tool operated externally of the housing maybe inserted through these openings in the housing and passed vertically through gas openings'25. Removal of the housing cover is facilitated by mounting directly on the housing cover the several branches of pipe line 32 leading to nozzles 3|. Then by disconnecting the supply pipe at union 32a, all the branches and nozzles 3| can be removed with the cover plate with a minimum of time and effort.

An optional construction that affords flexibility .when lowered. When damper 4| is raised, as

shown in Fig. 1, the entire gas washer operates at full capacity but in the event that the volume of gas supplied .drops materially, it is often far more efiiclent to operate only a portion of the washer since in this way the gas velocity and pressure drop may be maintained at the most efilcien't values for dust collection. Thedivision of the washer into two parts ,by partition 40 is simply typical of many variations which might be used. For example, the single partition 4|] may be so placed that only a quarter or a third of the ducts 22 are taken out of operation by lowering damper ll; or a plurality of partitions 40 maybe .used along with a plurality of individual complete gas cleaners in parallel with inlets l2 attached to branches of a gas conduit, not shown,

each of the branches having suitable damper means such as damper 4| located in it.

It is also possible that the gas at the time of entry through inlet l2 may carry in suspension sufiicient liquid in small droplets, either with or without solid particles also in suspension, to render unnecessary any wash liquid. This occurs typically when removing mist from a gas stream. In this case, spray nozzles 3|,are not used, or may be omitted entirely from chamber 30. The suspended liquid is deposited on the surfaces of cones 24 and tubes 22 which are wetted in the same manner as when a spray of wash liquid is introduced. Baflles 31 are preferably retained to remove any liquid particles still carried by the gas as it rises in space 36.

A variational form of gas cleaner is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. In this latter construction, partition means 44 placed parallel to partition l divide the space through which the gas flows downwardly into threeducts 45' of rectangular crosssection which are comparable to the circular ducts 22. oftheform already described.- The gas openings 46 are now elongated rectangular openings defined by the lower edges of pairs of baflles 41. baffles 41 are inclined and a pair of them form downwardly converging wall means which are separated at their lower edges to form or define an opening 46 through which the gas passes. Bailles in a series are substantially equally spaced vertically above one another and form a vertical 1y alined series of spaced openings 46 within and of less area than each of ducts 45. I Baiiies 41 and partitions 44 are welded at their Y ends to vertically extending plates 50 which have flanges along their vertical edges, as shown in Fig. 7, in order to maintain plates 50, and consequently the attached baiiles and partitions, properly spaced horizontally of the washer housing Ill. Each pair of plates 50, there being one at each side of the housing; together with the attached members 44 and '41 extending between 7 that pair of plates, can be slipped vertically into openings 53 are made in-plates 50 to register with baffles next below are also accessible for cleaning.-

' position as a unit, and the unit rests upon angle 5| or other stop means attached to the side wall of housing l0.

This type of construction lends itself easily to cleaning from a position at one side of the washer. and for this reason it is preferred, although not necessary, to provide a plurality of clean-cut holes 52 in at least one side wall of housing It, at and just below the ends of baffles 41. Corresponding each opening 52. As may be seen from Fig. 6,

these clean-cut openings are located just below bailies 41 and permit an externally operatedclean ing tool to be nioved longitudinally of the bafflein contact witli v the under side thereof to remove any accumulated deposits. Through the same hole, of course, the upper surfaces of the In this way cleaning is much simplified and it is not necessary to take the washer out of operation or to remove any of the baflles or partitions from the washer in order to effect a thorough cleaning of them. Clean-cut openings 52 are closed by any suitable means, being hereshown as closed by threaded plugs 55 screwed into flanges 66 riveted to the side wall of housing l6.

Except forv the structure just described, construction and arrangement of'the last form of gas washer is the same as previously described in connection with Figs. 1 to 5. From a comparison of Figs. 1 and 6, it will be seen that by removingheader plates I1 and 20 with tubes 22 in the As shown clearly in Fig. 6, fiat plate-like the gas washer of Fig. 1, partitions 44 and baffles 41 can be substituted for the removed parts.

As the'gas stream passes vertically downwardly through a series of alined gas openings 46 defined by the downwardly converging wall means, solid particles in suspension are removed in the same general manner previously described. Spray heads 3| introduce wash liquid at the upper end of the ducts and so maintain a liquid film which runs down the upper surfaces. of the top baflles 41 and is distributed by the gas stream over the surfaces of the lower bailies 41 to maintain wetted surfaces with which the gas stream comes in contact to deposit the suspended solid particles which are held collected by the film of liquid over the operating-defining members 41. In practice,

experience has shown that four or five openings 46 in a series produces an'optimum balance between maximum cleaning .efliciency and'minimum pressure drop on the gases as they pass through the ducts 45. However, a different number of openings 46 in each series may be used, as might be determined best for the foreign matter carried in suspension by the gas stream; and likewise a larger or smaller number of ducts 45 may be used within a single housing III as required to give the desired gas capacity.

In this variational form of the invention, partition means 44 may be more easily omitted because the upper ends of baflles 41 can be placed tightly against one another and the vertical walls of housing III or partition l5 so that all the gas it will be understood that various arrangements and constructions of parts may be used without departingfrom the spirit of my invention; and consequently I wish it understood that the fore-' going disclosure is to be construed as illustrative of, rather than limitative upon, the appended claims.

I claim:

. 1. In a gas scrubber for removing suspended particles from a stream of gas, the combination of a housing through which the gas stream flows; partition means within the housing subdividing the interior intov a plurality of rectangular gas ducts; a series of spaced plane, inclined members in each duct defining a series of rectangular ,"openings, each opening having an area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the duct and theseries of openings being alined in the direction of gas flow; and means for wetting the surfaces of the members.

2. In a gas scrubber for removing suspended particles from a stream of gas, the combination of a housing through which the gas stream flows; partition means within the housing subdividing 'the interior into a plurality of vertically extending gas ducts; a'plurality of removable vertically extending supports disposed longitudinally of each gas duct; and a plurality of spaced members in each duct attached to the supports in that duct and defining a series of openings alined in the direction of gas flow, each opening having an area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the of a housingthrough which the gas stream flows;

partition means within the housing subdividing the interior into a plurality of vertically extendingcircular gas ducts; a plurality of removable vertically extending supports disposed longitudinally of eachgas duct; a series of spaced frustoconical members in each duct attached to the supports in that duct and defining a series of circular openings alined in the direction of gas flow, each opening having an area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the duct, said supports .and attached series of frusto-conical members in a duct being withdrawable as a unit longitudinally of the duct; and means for wetting the surfaces of the members.

4. In a gas scrubber for removing suspended duct and confine the gas in the duct to a single stream occupying a relatively small central portion of the duct, the sections of each duct between successive ones of said members allowing abrupt expansion of the gas stream radially outward to the duct walls, the constricted sections being aligned centrally of the duct to provide a single unobstructed central gas passage; and means supplying wash liquid in finely divided form to the upper end of each gas duct.

5. In a gas scrubber for removing suspended particlesfroma stream of gas, the combination of a housing through which the gas stream flows; partition means within the housing subdividing the interior into a plurality of vertically extending circular gas ducts, each gas duct being of substantially uniform diameter throughout its length; an inlet chamber introducing gas to the upper ends of all ducts; a plurality of frustoconical members in each duct, each said member comprising downwardly converging imperforate wall means terminating substantially at the point of greatest convergence to form a gas opening, all said gas openings in each duct being aligned coaxially of the duct to forms. single unobstructed gas passage through theduct; an outlet chamber receiving gas from the lower ends of all ducts; and liquid supply means in the inlet chamber introducing wash liquid in finely dividedform to the upper ends of theducts.

6. In a gas scrubber for removing suspended particles drom a stream of gas, the combination of a housing through which the gas stream flows; partition means within'the housing subdividing the interior into a plurality of vertically extending gas ducts; a plurality of sets of removable vertically extending supports disposed longitudinally of the gas ducts; and a plurality of vertically spaced members in each duct defining a seriesof openings aligned in the direction of gas flow, each opening having an area smaller than the crosssectional area of the-duct; each set of the supports having attached thereto a plurality of the vertically spaced members and forming therewith a unit withdrawable as a whole from the housing.

'7. In agas scrubber for removing suspended particles from a stream of gas, the combination of a housing through which the gas stream flows partition means within the housing subdividing the interior into a plurality of vertically extending rectangular gas ducts; a plurality of sets of removable vertically extending supports disposed longitudinally of the gas ducts; and a plurality of vertically spaced plane, inclined members in each duct defining a series of rectangular openings aligned in the direction of gas flow, each opening having an area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the duct; each set of the supports having of a housing through which the gas stream flows;

a plurality of flat members within the housing, each member presenting to the gas stream a surface lying substantially in a single plane, the members being arranged in spaced pairs with said surfaces of each pair converging in the direction of gas flow to free edges spaced from each other transversely to the gas flow to form a relatively narrow, elongated, unobstructed opening through which gas flows, a series of said openings being aligned in the direction of gas -flow with the space between successive gas openings free from obstruction so as to form an unobstructed gas passage through the housing; and means for wetting the surfaces of the members.

NORMAN C. BRUNDAGE.

, CERTIFI CATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,205,592. June u, 191m.

nommn c. BRUNDAGE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patentlrequiring correction as follows: Page- 1, sec- 0nd column, line 59, for the word. "plane" read "plan"; page 5, first column, line 14.5, for Frail" read. --wa1l-- and that the said Letters Patent should he read with thiscorrection therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent. Office. I I

Signed and sealed this '6th day of August, A. D. 191m.

Henry Van Arsdale,

\ (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

